As the leaves turn amber and the mornings get that familiar crisp bite, many of us assume the gardening year is winding down. But autumn is actually the absolute best time of year to get your hands dirty, especially if you are looking to add structure, height, and depth to your outdoor space with trees and shrubs. Instead of waiting for next year, planting trees and shrubs now gives roots the ultimate head start. The soil is still holding onto summer warmth, the autumn rain does the heavy lifting with watering, and plants can settle in without battling the scorching summer sun. British Garden Centres has put together what you should be getting in the ground right now.

Reaching new heights with autumn trees

Choosing the right tree can completely redefine a garden, and for autumn, it is hard to look past the classic Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum). As the days shorten, acers put on an unforgettable show with fiery crimsons, deep oranges, and golden yellows that catch the low autumn sunlight. If you want something that provides year round architectural elegance, look to Betula utilis var. jacquemontii (the Himalayan Birch). Its striking, peeling white bark looks incredible against bare winter borders, making sure your garden keeps its character even on the gloomiest January days.

For a unique addition, the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is an evergreen small tree that brings delicate white, urn-shaped flowers from September to November, followed by fascinating red, strawberry-like fruits. It is a fantastic choice for a small garden and acts as a brilliant magnet for late-season bees looking for nectar.

For those who love delicate blooms during the colder months, the autumn cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’) produces pink-white flowers in mild spells from late autumn into winter, bringing life and colour when most other trees are completely bare. Amelanchier lamarckii (snowy mespilus) hard to beat, as it offers lovely white flowers in spring, followed by stunning autumn foliage and berries, making it a wonderful all-rounder.

For native choices that champion local wildlife, the rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) is an exceptional option as it features white spring flowers alongside brilliant autumn foliage and red berries. Similarly, the native hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is wonderfully hardy, tolerates a wide range of soils, and provides fantastic hedges or small trees packed with natural food for birds.

Planting these trees in October or November means their root systems can establish quietly over the winter, resulting in much stronger, happier growth by the time spring arrives.

Stunning shrubs for the season

Shrubs in any well-designed garden border offer structure, foliage, and seasonal blooms right when the rest of the garden starts to fade. Viburnum tinus is a brilliant evergreen shrub or small tree with clusters of white or pink-tinged flowers that emerge from late autumn and carry right through winter. Compact and easy to grow, it thrives particularly well in a sheltered spot. For a native option with incredible wildlife value, the guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) delivers lovely spring flowers, striking autumn foliage, and bright red berries that work wonderfully in mixed hedges or as a standalone garden feature.

To inject vivid colour into dull autumn and winter days, shrubs like Cornus (dogwood) are indispensable. While often grown for their striking winter stems, varieties such as Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry) produce small yellow flowers early in the year and can be successfully planted in autumn, remaining compact, easy to grow, and great for wildlife.

For reliable evergreen structure and year-round colour, Skimmia and Photinia 'Red Robin' are top tier choices. Skimmia offers glossy green leaves alongside tight clusters of fragrant flower buds that brighten up the darker months, while Photinia 'Red Robin' is famous for its brilliant, fiery new red growth that catches the eye from autumn right through the growing season. Euonymus alatus, commonly known as the burning bush, lives up to its name by turning an intensely vibrant, glowing crimson in autumn, making it an absolute showstopper for border planting.

Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres said: “Autumn is the secret season for planting trees and shrubs. By taking the time to plant trees and shrubs now, you are investing in the future height, structure, and wildlife value of your garden. Whether you are looking for the winter fragrance of witch hazel, the gorgeous autumn berries of a native rowan, or the brilliant red foliage of a Japanese Maple, our garden centres are fully stocked with everything you need to reach new heights in your outdoor space this season.”

British Garden Centres (BGC) is the UK’s largest family-owned garden centre group with 80 centres around the country. The group is owned and led by the Stubbs family, who also own and operate Woodthorpe Leisure Park in Lincolnshire.

BGC was launched in 1990 with the opening of Woodthorpe Garden Centre by brothers Charles and Robert Stubbs. Since 2018, it has expanded rapidly with the acquisition of garden centres, allowing it to grow from its heartland to the business it is now, with 80 garden centres spread from Carmarthen to Ramsgate, Wimborne to East Durham.